I'm hearing a wierd whirring noise from the engine compartment. It raises in pitch with the idle but it is like twice as high. It is quite loud when I start it, but it quiets down as I go. Anyone have any ideas? Not a whoosh like a fan blowing air but a whir if that makes any sense. It is pissing me off....

 

turbo

hah, just kidding now sure what it might be.. Maybe a belt? Thats been happening to me lately (not often tho)

 

Doe the sound have anything to do with the clutch or it being in/out of gear?

I'm thinking pilot or T/O bearing.

 

Yea its probably either a belt but more so one of the tranny bearings.

 

does it sound like a huge fan starting up, like there is a **** load of air being pumped into somewhere. If so then I get that too, i still haven't figured out what it is, although I have found it only happens when the car has been cold for a while.

 

It is supposed to do that for a few seconds right after a cold startup. It is the clutch on the fan.

If I start my car up cold, the fan roars for about 20 seconds or so and then I can hear it slow down. If yours keeps roaring, your fan clutch is most likely shot.

 

lol... that was my first thought too when I read the title.

 

Locate where the noise is comming from by holding on end of a tube to your ear and the other end various places around the engine. Don't get caught in the fan and belts. I use a secton of garden hose and it works quite well.

Could be and Idler pully bearing, alternator, A/C, water pump, belts, P/s pump etc....I had to replace the P/S idler pully bearing because it made noise.

 

Look at the silencer for your air pump. (that is, if you still have it)

 

my car does the same thing when its cold. It winds up when the car sits in neutral, but when I engage the clutch, the sound dies off. When the car is warm the sound goes away.